Pallet wagon for sod pick-up machine

ABSTRACT

A pallet wagon is adapted to be pulled through a field, either alone or in tandem, along side a sod pick-up and rolling machine and is adapted to receive the sod rolls. The wagon is provided with pairs of fore and aft wheels connected to suitable tongues, with both wheel pairs being selectively steerable. When a tongue is raised, its respective wheel pair locks into non-steerable position. A retractable and removable platform and mount therefore are provided along the open side of the wagon so that a person handling the sod rolls can ride thereon without having to walk alongside the moving wagon.

United States Patent 1 Gieringer et al.

[ PALLET WAGON FOR SOD PICK-UP MACHINE [75] Inventors: Robert G.Gieringer: Robert H.

Gieringer; William A. Gieringer, all of Milwaukee, Wis.

[73] Assignee: H. L. Diebl Co., Inc., South Windham, Conn.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 148,331

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Mold 214/831 June 19, 1973-3,589,744 6/1971 Hansen 280/325 Primary Examiner-Robert J. SparAttorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [57] ABSTRACT A pallet wagonis adapted to be pulled through a field, either alone or in tandem,along side a sod pick-up and rolling machine and is adapted to receivethe sod rolls. The wagon is provided with pairs of fore and aft wheelsconnected to suitable tongues, with both wheel pairs being selectivelysteerable. When a tongue is raised, its respective wheel pair locks intonon-steerable position. A retractable and removable platform and mounttherefore are provided along the open side of the wagon so that a personhandling the sod rollscan ride thereon without having to walk alongsidethe moving wagon.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures mmmm sun SIEETIWZ FIGJ INVENTORS ROBERT G.GIERINGER ROBERT H. GEERINGER WILLIAM A. GHERINGER BY 44 f4 5 KJAttOrHEYS PAHMEMM 9 In SIEHEBFZ FIG 6 r' Attorneys 1 PALLET WAGON FORSOD PICK-UP MACHINE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a pallet wagon for a sod pick-up machine. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a wagon for supporting pallets onwhich are manually placed rolls of sod which have been picked updirectly from the field or conveyed to adjacent the wagon by a machinesuch as that disclosed in the present inventors copending US applicationSer. No. 847,898, filed Aug. 6, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,330 andentitledSod Pick-Up Machine.

The wagon is adapted to be pulled through a field, either alone or intandem, along sidea sod pick-upand rolling machine and is adapted toreceive the sod rolls. The wagon is provided with pairs of fore and aftwheels connected to suitable tongues, with both wheel pairs beingselectively steerable. When a tongue is raised, its respective wheelpair locks into non-steerable position. A retractable and removableplatform and mount therefore are provided along the open side of thewagon so that a person handling the sod rolls can ride thereon withouthaving to walk alongside the moving wagon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate thebest mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a pallet wagon constructed in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end perspective view of the wagon, the rear end beinga mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showingthe steering and locking apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the walkingplate and connections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, thepallet wagon of the invention includes a frame lcomprising an invertedV- hipped or arched beam 2 whichis supported at its ends by verticalstruts 3 which in turn are supported in any suitable manner on front andrear endyaxles 4. Each axle 4 carries a pair of wheels '5 which aremounted for pivotal steering through a suitable linkage6 which in turnis connected to a horizontally pivotal steering assembly 7. An elongatedtongue 8 is attached to a generallyU-shaped bracket 9 on assembly 7, andis vertically pivotable at its inner end and horizontally pivotable withthe assembly.

The axle, wheel and steering arrangement is identical at both ends. Asthe wagon is drawn through the sod field, it is desirable that onlytheforward wagon end be steered. Also, it may be desired to reverse thedirection of wagon movement, and thus the end which issteered. Toaccomplish this, means are provided toselectively lock either pair ofend wheels against steering. For this 6 purpose, a pair of fixedtransversely spaced legs 10 extend outwardly from the central portion ofeach axle 4. Legs 10 are disposed above assembly 7 and bracket 9 and areslightly greater apart than the width of tongue 8 so that when thetongue is raised, it is confined there between. A removable chain 11 maybe connected between the upper end of each strut 3 and the end portionof the respective tongue 8 to hold the latter in fixed ver ticalposition. Legs 10 lock tongue 8 in horizontal position, thus holdingwheels 5 straight and preventing steering thereof.

In some instances it may be desired to have several wagons connected intandem. For this purpose, a hitch plate 12 extends outwardly from eachsteering assembly 7,with a suitable opening 13 therein. Plate 12 isdisposed below its respective tongue 8 so that when the.

latter is raised, the plate will be exposed for suitable connection tothe front tongue of a trailing wagon.

The box-like wagon body 14 is hung from beam 2 and includes spacedvertical end struts 15 disposed in wardly from wheels 5, and a centralstrut 16. A wagon platform or floor 17 is suspended from struts l5 and16, and is disposed closely adjacent the ground below the axle level.

The rear side and both ends of body 14 are closed, leaving the frontbody side open. In addition, a transverse divider wall 18 separates body14 into two sod storage chambers 19.

Each chamber 19 is adapted to receive a skid or pallet 20 on which sodrolls 21 are'manually piled. Since rolls 21 usually overlap the. pallet,as shown, spacer means in the form of an elongated bar 22 extends alongthe lower rear side corner of body 14 to space the pallet from the rearbody wall and pennit overhang of sod.

As the pallet wagon is moved along, a sod handler removes the rolled sodfrom the field or a machine conveyor and places it on one of the twopallets. Normally, the handler would have to walk along the groundclosely adjacent the open front side of the wagon. The device of thepresent invention provides means to carry the handler along the Wagon.

For this purpose, an extensible rod 23 is telescopingly mounted .in atubular member 24 disposed along each end of floor 17. Each rod may bepulledoutwardly from the open wagon side. A flat walking plate 25extends between rods 23 adjacent the open side and is attached theretoby short flexible chains 26. Plate 25 is suspended so that it rides onthe ground, and chains 26 always find their proper angle because therodsare freely rotatable in members 24. Alternately, the connection betweenchains 26 and their respective rods may berotatable about the rod axes.

The sod handlermerely stands on walking plate 25 during operation of thesystem, and is thus relieved of walking. Various modes of carrying outthe invention are contemplated as being withinthe scope of the followingclaims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subjectmatter which is regarded as the invention.

We claim: I. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls inthefield comprising, in combination:

a. a frame, b. an axle mounted to each end of said frame, c. a pair 'ofwheels disposed on each axle, with each pair being mounted for steering,d. means to selectively lock each pair of wheels against steering,

in the field comprising, in combination:

a. a frame having a hipped beam with end studs extending downwardlytherefrom,

b. end axles mounting said respective studs,

c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle and with each pair beingsteerably mounted and connected to a horizontally pivotal steeringassembly,

d. an elongated tongue vertically pivotally mounted at its inner end toeach said steering assembly,

e. means to selectively lock each ,pair of wheels against steering, andcomprising:

1. a pair of fixed legs extending outwardly from the central section ofeach axle,

2. said legs being disposed above said steering assembly andtransversely spaced apart slightly more than the tongue width so thatwhen the tongue is raised it is confined between said legs and fixedlyheld in position against horizontal movement,

f. a wagon body suspended from said beam and including a floor disposedbetween said wheel pairs below the axle level,

g. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, but open onthe front side,

h. arod extendably mounted to each end portion of said floor,

i. a flat walking plate extending between said rods and adapted to rideon the ground,

j. and flexible means suspending said plate from each said rod. 3. Inthe wagon of claim 2: means to selectively hold each said tongue inraised vertical position.

4. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the fieldcomprising, in combination:

a. a frame having a hipped beam with end studs extending downwardlytherefrom, I

b. end axles mounting said respective studs,

c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle and with each pair beingsteerably mounted and connected to a horizontally pivotal steeringassembly,

d. an elongated tongue vertically pivotally mounted at its inner end toeach said steering assembly,

e. means to selectively lock each pair of wheels against steering, andcomprising:

1. a pair of fixed legs extending outwardly from the central section ofeach axle,

2. said legs being disposed above said steering assembly andtransversely spaced apart slightly more than the tongue width so thatwhen the tongue is raised it is confined between said legs and fixedlyheld in position against horizontal movement,

f. means to selectively hold each said tongue in raised verticalposition,

g. a hitch plate extending outwardly from each said steering assemblybeneath the respective tongue for attachment to the tongue of a trailingwagon,

h. a wagon body suspended from said hipped beam and including a floordisposed between said wheel pairs below the axle level,

i. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, but open onthe front side,

j. a rod extendably mounted to each end portion of said floor,

k. a flat walking plate extending between said rods and adapted toslidingly ride along the ground adjacent said front side to providesupport for a sod handler,

l. and flexible means suspending said plate from each said rod andthereby connecting said plate to said floor.

1. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the fieldcomprising, in combination: a. a frame, b. an axle mounted to each endof said frame, c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle, with each pairbeing mounted for steering, d. means to selectively lock each pair ofwheels against steering, c. a wagon body suspended from said frame andincluding a floor disposed between said wheel pairs below the axlelevel, f. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, butopen on the front side, g. and a walking plate connected to said floorand adapted to slide along the ground adjacent said open front side toprovide support for a sod handler.
 2. said legs being disposed abovesaid steering assembly and transversely spaced apart slightly more thanthe tongue width so that when the tongue is raised it is confinedbetween said legs and fixedly held in position against horizontalmovement, f. means to selectively hold each said tongue in raisedvertical position, g. a hitch plate extending outwardly from each saidsteering assembly beneath the respective tongue for attachment to thetongue of a trailing wagon, h. a wagon body suspended from said hippedbeam and including a floor disposed between said wheel pairs below theaxle level, i. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side,but open on the front side, j. a rod extendably mounted to each endportion of said floor, k. a flat walking plate extending between saidrods and adapted to slidingly ride along the ground adjacent said frontside to provide support for a sod handler, l. and flexible meanssuspending said plate from each said rod and thereby connecting saidplate to said floor.
 2. said legs being disposed above said steeringassembly and transversely spaced apart slightly more than the tonguewidth so that when the tongue is raised it is confined between said legsand fixedly held in position against horizontal movement, f. a wagonbody suspended from said beam and including a floor disposed betweensaid wheel pairs below the axle level, g. said body being closed on bothends and on the rear side, but open on the front side, h. a rodextendably mounted to each end portion of said floor, i. a flat walkingplate extending between said rods and adapted to ride on the ground, j.and flexible means suspending said plate from each said rod.
 2. A palletwagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the field comprising, incombination: a. a frame having a hipped beam with end studs extendingdownwArdly therefrom, b. end axles mounting said respective studs, c. apair of wheels disposed on each axle and with each pair being steerablymounted and connected to a horizontally pivotal steering assembly, d. anelongated tongue vertically pivotally mounted at its inner end to eachsaid steering assembly, e. means to selectively lock each pair of wheelsagainst steering, and comprising:
 3. In the wagon of claim 2: means toselectively hold each said tongue in raised vertical position.
 4. Apallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the fieldcomprising, in combination: a. a frame having a hipped beam with endstuds extending downwardly therefrom, b. end axles mounting saidrespective studs, c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle and witheach pair being steerably mounted and connected to a horizontallypivotal steering assembly, d. an elongated tongue vertically pivotallymounted at its inner end to each said steering assembly, e. means toselectively lock each pair of wheels against steering, and comprising: